The District Administration Leadership Institute bestows honor  to Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.  

Philadelphia –  The District Administration Leadership Institute (DALI) proudly announced Dr Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia and the nation’s eighth largest school district, as Superintendent of the Year. The winners of the prestigious 2025 District Administration National Awards Program, celebrated excellence and innovation in education, and honored school districts, education leaders, as well as groundbreaking initiatives that drive meaningful change and inspire progress across America’s schools.

This year’s awards recognize distinguished achievements in six key categories, including Academic Excellence, Ed-Tech Innovation, and Career Pathways, while also spotlighting individual leaders whose visionary strategies are shaping the future of education. 

«This recognition belongs to our entire school community. The progress we’ve made would not be possible without the collective dedication of the Board of Education, our staff, parents, students and unions, said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D. “Together, we are shaping a brighter future.”

DALI stands as the foremost national pre-K12 organization dedicated to empowering district leaders through a comprehensive suite of services. DALI provides cutting-edge leadership development opportunities for superintendents and other senior staff, inspiring innovation, and leadership excellence in PreK-12 education.

Under Superintendent Watlington’s leadership, over the past two ½  years, student attendance increased, the 4-year graduation rate increased, test scores increased for students in grades 3 – 8, and the number of student dropouts decreased by more than 1,400 students.  In the 2023-2024 school year, the District’s progress continued as District-wide enrollment increased for the first time in a decade, and increased our academic performance in 9 out of 13 key areas. 

Building off of that momentum, for the 2024-2025 school year, Superintendent Watlington charged his team to reorganize the learning networks to accelerate academic achievement; and launch a District-wide two-way communication and feedback platform – Let’s Talk – to enable the District to improve our customer service. And under his leadership, the District opened its first Special Education Evaluation Center to position us to enhance the academic experiences for our students with diverse needs.

Amy Dujon, Vice President of Education at DALI commended Superintendent Watlington’s leadership in saying, “Tony Watlington has exemplified what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and impact. His bold initiatives and passion for education stand as a beacon of excellence for educators nationwide.” The superintendent accepted the prestigious award at the District Administration Leadership Institute Superintendents Summit in Florida.